Through the years I have asked countless people the exploratory questions used in both Evangelism Explosion and Continuing Witness Training. I have never heard anyone answer the first question, “If you died in the next moment would you go to heaven?” “No, I know that I would go to Hell!” The reason is obvious. If a person understood that they were truly headed to Hell they wouldn't wait around for death! They would do what was required to escape fiery torment. The scripture clearly states that the natural destination of mankind is Hell and it is a serious place of suffering.
Jesus communicates a horrifying account of a man who went to Hell and desperately wanted to warn his family about the suffering that awaited them. LK 16:19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. LK 16:22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, `Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' LK 16:25 "But Abraham replied, `Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
Hell is real and awaits all. You may be thinking, “Preacher, you sure are negative. I am a positive thinker and I don't allow myself to be drenched with negative thoughts.” “I, too, strive to be a positive thinker and I am positive that the natural path of every person is directed toward a place where there is fiery agony!” I base my conclusions not on my scientific research, nor do I base it on the scholarly works of noted theological scholars. I do not base my conclusions on the results of thoroughly calculated polls, nor do I base my conclusions on the words of newspaper editors, magazine writers, or well known celebrities. I base my conclusions on what God has clearly said to us in His written word! RO 2:12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
The scripture begins by telling us that those who have not heard the law are headed to Hell. RO 2:12a All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law... It is not enough to use the excuse, “Lord, I didn't know. Nobody told me your righteous law.” There are some things that are intuitively known, and sin is one of those. A person does not need a detailed list of inexcusable laws to know if he has broken God's law. His conscience testifies that he has a knowledge of right and wrong. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) God has placed an intrinsic knowledge of right and wrong in the heart of man and woman. Think about the times you heard someone say, “that is just wrong.” We all know that it is just wrong to steal, to lie, to lust, and to murder. Although the average person seeks to deny or hide his personal sin, he does not call these sins virtues. There is a throbbing in his head, a voice in his ear, a lump in his throat that verifies a conscience. Such indicators are clear evidence that the person is guilty and in need of help far beyond human experience. If a person ever stops the constant clatter and chatter of life and listens to the sound of truth written upon his heart he will have to agree with God that he is a helpless, hopeless sinner in need of a Savior.
Second, the scripture tells us that those who are familiar with the law are headed to Hell. RO 2:12b ...all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. It is not enough to know the law, one has to keep the law. You may say, “Well I am a good citizen and neighbor. I try to do what is right. I even go to church and serve on several committees. Certainly, God considers me a person who keeps the law. It seems obvious from my track record that I am headed to heaven. In Paul's letter to the Philippians he lists his impressive religious resume. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees, a strict observer of religious rules. Yet, he considered his impressive track record to be woefully inadequate for earning a spot in heaven. PHP 3:7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. Paul basically said, “Although my past may be impressive to good men, it is not impressive to the Good Shepherd.
How good do we have to be? Jesus said it like this: Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Are you perfect? Can you clutch the stone with confidence before you toss it full strength at that aggravating person in your life? The book of James states that if we break any part of the law we are guilty of breaking all of it. James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. Is there any point where you have stumbled? Have you ever lusted after a person of the opposite sex? Have you ever coveted another person's house or car? Have you ever thought you deserved that job instead of the inept person who was promoted? Have you ever lied? Have you ever taken something that did not belong to you? Are you faultless, or just delusional?
An honest evaluation can only lead to one conclusion. You need a Savior. You need someone who is without sin to pay for your sin. Look with me at verse 16. 16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. Do you really think that your sins are safely hidden? Do you really think that they will never be revealed? If you do, you are fooling yourself. There will come a day where God will judge men's secrets. There will come a day where the truth of a person's heart and life will be disclosed publicly.
The key phrase in this divine disclosure is through Jesus Christ. It will not be the secret sin that will ultimately condemn the secret sinner. Instead, it will be his failure to surrender his heart to the Savior, Jesus Christ. The judgment is certain, but the sentence is dependent upon whose righteousness is on trial. When a person confesses Jesus as the sinless Son of God who came to take away the sin of the world and turns from his sin, he opens the door for Jesus to enter his heart and exchange perfect righteousness for secret sins. It is a deal that makes no sense in human terms. Why would God suffer for those who cursed and tortured him? Why would God go the extra mile when mankind could offer him nothing in return? The answer is simple and yet so complex that words fail to communicate it. GOD LOVES US! There is no hidden angle, no fine print in the book of life that negates a heavenly pardon. The Lord simply wants us to be what He created us to be, a people created in His image; a people not marred by sin.